Lots of people told me that Zadar was a dull city, but the truth is that I loved it 🥰 A visit to Zadar is a must while visiting Croatia and that’s exactly why I’ve decided to write an entire post about it here on the blog. So, keep reading to discover the amazing places you can visit in Zadar.

Given its proximity to the Adriatic Sea and considering that it is a coastal city, any time of year is a good time to visit Zadar. However, if you are looking for milder temperatures and the magic of the Croatian summer (sunny, warm days when life seems to run more slowly), then the summer months are the most recommended.

I was in Zadar in the first week of June and the temperatures were already quite nice to walk around with fewer clothes and even to take a few dips in the sea. However, it is also important to remember that the summer months (June to August) are the most popular. Therefore, expect a greater number of people on the streets and inflated prices.

Although I found Zadar very interesting, to get a good glimpse of the city, I believe 1 day is enough 😊 The historic city centre is quite small and totally pedestrian. This way, a full day will ensure that you can visit Zadar’s main points of interest while still being able to relax on some of the terraces scattered around the city.

Additionally, and in case you wish to stay in Zadar for more days, you can always take the opportunity to visit some of the islands closest to the city, such as Ugljan, Dugi Otok, Molat or the Natural Park of the Kornati Islands.

Visiting Zadar is a fairly simple task as there are quite a few options available to get there. First of all, you can fly to Zadar as the city has direct flights from some places such as:

• Italy (Milan, Pisa, Bologna, Turin, Bari, Rome, Naples)
• United Kingdom (Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, London, …)
• France (Marseille, Paris, Bordeaux)
• Hungary (Budapest)
• Ireland (Dublin)
• Belgium (Brussels)
• Croatia (Zagreb, Pula)

However, there are also bus connections via major cities in Croatia such as Split or Zagreb:

• Split: the journey takes 2h30 (some companies offering this route: Flixbus, Nomago, Prijevoz Knežević, Croatia Bus)
• Zagreb: the journey takes about 3h30 (some companies with this route available: Flixbus, Puntamica Line, Francuzevic)

While in Zadar I stayed at B&B Demar Residence. Located in a residential area, B&B Demar Residence was the perfect choice to rest from a packed Croatia itinerary. It is a complex of luxury flats and rooms.

With a clean and modern decoration, the room we stayed in was quite spacious and had an outside space with a view of Zadar’s old town and the sea. On the outdoor terrace, in addition to a few lounge chairs, there were also two other sun loungers for those who wanted to soak up some sun.

In the complex common area there is a swimming pool and more sun loungers. The space is quiet and quite nice to cool off in the hottest days of Zadar. And the best part? You don’t even need to bring beach towels as B&B Demar Residence provides towels for the pool.

Finally, I must also mention breakfast. The breakfast room is tiny, but on warmer days, there is also the option of having this meal by the pool. There was a huge variety of products available, and the breakfast was a buffet. Only the bread (still warm straight out of the oven 🥰) and ham/cheese are brought to each table.

Introductions made, let’s then see what to visit in Zadar? Let’s start, then, with the map version of this 1-day itinerary in Zadar:

We start in a very small square with what I consider a good introduction to the historical centre of Zadar. Apart from the Roman pillar that exists there, you can also find a section of the floor covered with glass. Through that glass, we find archaeological remains, namely a sarcophagus.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you are visiting Zadar by car, you can choose to park your car here as there are no cars allowed in the historic centre . Parking is paid but the price is not too high so it is a good option.

A few steps later and we arrive at the Five Wells Square. It is one of the city’s landmarks, which served for many years as the source of water supply for the inhabitants of Zadar.

In this square, it will also be difficult to miss the Captain’s Tower, with its 26 metres high or even the Land Gate in the old wall that protected the city of Zadar.

It’s time to walk to the next point of this Zadar’s itinerary – I’m talking about the Church of Saint Simeon. With a relatively simple interior, we find here one of the most important works of medieval goldsmith’s art in Croatia – the sarcophagus of Saint Simeon.

People’s Square is one of the places you must visit in Zadar. It is said that everything that took place in Zadar, started or started to be heard here. It is the place where Zadar’s inhabitants gather and also where people can enjoy a drink or an ice cream on one of the many terraces available 😉

It is a busy place, but even so, it is impossible not to look closely at the Clock Tower (in operation since 1803) or the City Loggia.

From the busiest square in the city, we head to the most famous street. Known as Široka street in Croatian, the street is wide just as its name indicates.

Commissioned by the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar, the Roman Forum is clear proof of the influence of this empire on the city of Zadar. Although today only its ruins remain, it is estimated that on the lower floor there were galleries and, on the upper floor, shops.

In the same space as the Roman Forum, you will also find one of the most famous churches of Zadar, if not its brand image! It was built in the 19th century and is now no longer used for religious purposes, being used for musical events due to its acoustic qualities.

Also next to the Roman Forum we can observe the Church of St Mary and Benedictine Monastery, founded in 1066. Currently, in its interior, we can find the Museum of Sacred Art of Zadar.

Although the Church of St. Donatus is Zadar’s trademark, the city also has a Cathedral. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, this church is Romanesque in style.

Besides being possible to visit its interior, we can also climb its bell tower, from where we have one of the best views of Zadar 😉 The ticket in June 2022 cost 15 kn (~ 2€).

The cultural visit mostly finished, we head to another very interesting part of the city. And this second part of the itinerary starts on the promenade by the Adriatic sea, better known as the Riva by Zadar’s inhabitants.

It is a peaceful place full of good energy, especially at the end of the day when the sun sets over the sea. So, enjoy a short walk while appreciating the beauty of this small Croatian peninsula.

Also in Zadar’s harbour, you will find the Sea Organ. This is a spectacular musical sculpture in which we can hear a pleasant melody produced by the release of energy from the waves and tides. It is the ideal place to sit for a bit while enjoying the sunset 😉

A few meters from the Sea Organ, we have another place you should visit in Zadar. This is another modern facility in the city and I recommend visiting it only at night.

It is the result of the combination of 300 solar panels in a circle 22 metres in diameter which lights up at night in a real light show.

While strolling by the sea, I also suggest you appreciate the walls of Zadar along the way. After all, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.

And after walking around Zadar’s city walls, re-enter the walled city through the Sea Gate and walk to St. Krsevan Church. This is a Romanesque church from the 10th century and, together with the Zadar’s Cathedral, represents one of the most relevant monuments of Romanesque art in the Dalmatian region.

If you have some additional time in Zadar and would like to know what other things can be visited in Zadar, here is a short list:

• Zadar Sphinx
• Churches: Church of Our Lady of Health, Church of St. Andrew and St. Peter, Church of St. Elias, Church and Monastery of St. Francis
• Museum of Ancient Glass 
• Museum of Illusions
• Archeological Museum

Alternatively, Zadar is also an excellent starting point for visiting the famous Plitvice Lakes, the Krka National Park or other lesser-known Croatian islands. Here are some suggestions for excursions from Zadar:

I only had one meal in Zadar, but I have a restaurant to recommend because the food was good. The restaurant was Zadar Jadera and we opted for a meat skewer and a typical Croatian dish (pašticada). The skewers were significantly better than the pašticada, but what I really liked was the dessert (rožata) 🥰

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